Straight answers to the questions we get asked every week — from "electrician or plumber?" to "is a tripping breaker dangerous?"
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Can't Find Your Question?
Every cylinder fault is a bit different. If yours isn't covered here, call us and describe it — a two-minute conversation usually gets you a clear answer, and it costs nothing.
Both trades work on cylinders, on different parts. Electricians handle the element, thermostat, wiring, isolating switch and switchboard side. Plumbers handle the tank, valves, pipes and pressure. Because sudden failures are nearly always electrical, call the electrician first unless water is leaking.
The most common causes, in order: a burnt-out element, a failed thermostat, a tripped breaker or blown fuse, a faulty isolating switch, or a stuck ripple-control relay. All electrical, all things we test for on every visit.
Our call-out with full electrical diagnosis is from $120 incl. GST. Element and thermostat replacements are quoted as a fixed price on-site — typically a few hundred dollars all-in, far less than a cylinder replacement.
Usually 5–10 years. Hard water, an ageing cylinder and heavy usage shorten that. Slow heating and cooler-than-usual water are the early warnings.
Treat it seriously. A repeatedly tripping hot water circuit usually means the element is leaking current to earth. Stop resetting it, leave it off, and have it tested.
Stored at 60°C to prevent Legionella bacteria, delivered at no more than 55°C at the tap via a tempering valve. We set every replacement thermostat correctly and flag missing tempering valves.
For most no-hot-water calls in Christchurch, yes — same-day service is the norm, and we prioritise homes with no hot water at all and tripping circuits.
No — full cylinder replacement is a plumber-led job and we'll tell you honestly when that's the right call. Our specialty is repairing the electrical side: elements, thermostats, switches, wiring and fault finding.
No — mains electrical work like element or thermostat replacement must be carried out by a registered electrician under NZ law. DIY cylinder work can also void your home insurance.
Yes. Any work that requires one under the Electricity Act 1992 gets a CoC from our EWRB-registered electricians, confirming compliance with AS/NZS 3000.
That points to a thermostat stuck on — the element keeps heating past the set temperature. It's worth treating urgently, especially with kids or elderly people in the house. Call us and we'll prioritise it.
Yes — intermittent faults are early-stage faults. A loose connection, marginal thermostat or early element failure gets worse, never better, and it's cheaper to fix before it fails completely.
All the time. We provide written findings and CoCs for records, invoice billing, and we deal directly with tenants for access if you prefer.
All of Christchurch plus the surrounding towns — Rolleston, Lincoln, Prebbleton, Templeton, Kaiapoi and Rangiora. See our Service Areas page or call to confirm your address.
Still Wondering About Your Cylinder?
Describe the fault over the phone and we'll give you an honest read — free. Call us on 0800 120 024 or request a quote online.
